'Spiritual walk': Stockton's Holy Cross United Methodist Church opens labyrinth project

The Holy Cross United Methodist Church consecrated its new labyrinth on Sunday.

The project, which has been in the works for more than two years, is now open to all community members to experience.

“I've walked these a number of times and you really can get outside of all your stress and strain," Gary Pope-Sears, pastor at Holy Cross United Methodist Church, said.

Whether seen as something religious or not, labyrinths are well knows to relate to the exploration of meditation, and are often used for rituals or ceremonies, Pope-Sears refers to it as a “spiritual walk.”

Once just an idea is now a reality come true for the community. The labyrinth is a place for creativity and new ideas to spring, he said.

The space was blessed on Sunday by Pope-Sears with anointing oil and with two prayers, one in English and one in Tongan.

Even though the labyrinth holds similarities to a maze, it shouldn't be confused with one. The labyrinth is supposed to help individuals find peace or find answers for their unanswered questions.

Sione Latu Manumanu, a lay leader at Holy Cross United Methodist Church, said it took about a month to complete the project. He and his crew of landscapers made sure it was spacious enough for multiple people to move around it comfortably at the same time.

Sybella Pope-Sears, wife of pastor Gary Pope-Sears, has also been involved in the process of the labyrinth project. She is especially excited about bringing more nature elements around the labyrinth.

“I'm delighted to put up the trees because trees are important and with all the climate stuff," she said. "The more trees the better, but they should bloom across the summer and into the fall and it should be a lovely space and I'm just very excited by that. They reach up to God and so can we.”

For more information visit: https://www.holycrossumc.us/

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers breaking news. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Holy Cross United Methodist Church opens labyrinth in Stockton